Best Online Web Design Degree Programs
An estimated four billion people use the internet every day, and about 576,000 new websites are created daily. Naturally, there is high demand for professionals who can create these websites, including web designers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 8% employment growth for web developers and digital designers between 2023 and 2033, which is more than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations. These professionals earn a higher-than-average salary as well, with their median annual salary in 2023 totaling $92,750.
Graduates with an online bachelor’s in web design can become web developers, web designers, and user experience designers. They use their creativity and technical knowledge to design aesthetically pleasing and functional websites. Most students finish an online web design degree program in about four years.
Read on for a comprehensive look into top online schools for web design, as well as admission requirements, career opportunities, and how to choose a program.
What Can I Expect From an Online Bachelor’s in Web Design Program?
A bachelor’s in web design appeals to students with technical and creative talents. Students develop strong graphic design skills, as well as fluency in HTML and CSS. Web designers need attention to detail and persistence. They must also complete continuing education to ensure that they stay current on new technology and design trends.
An online bachelor’s in web design program typically requires 120 credits and takes about four years of full-time study to complete. In some programs, approved transfer credits can lead to a degree in two years.
Schools offer various specializations in this field that enable students to direct their studies toward a specific area of interest. Common educational tracks for web design include:
- Bachelor of Arts in Web Design: This program focuses on the broad set of skills needed to excel in web design. Courses include visual design, motion graphics, and user experience design./li>
- Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts With an Emphasis in Web Design: This program combines graphic design, digital media, and web design. Students graduate with experience not only in web design but also in designing for print, video, and other digital platforms.
- Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development: This program offers a balanced education in both technical and creative skill sets. This program often appeals to students looking to acquire experience in both front-end and back-end programming, as well as in web design.
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology With a Concentration in Web and Mobile Application Development: This program focuses on coding and design for both web and mobile devices and prepares students for careers in mobile web design, web development, and graphic design.
Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Programs.
Featured Online Web Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Courses Will I Take in an Online Bachelor’s in Web Design Program?
While curricula differ based on concentration and career path, most online bachelor’s in web design programs consist of comparable foundational courses. Technical and creative subjects provide students with the comprehensive skill set necessary to understand both functionality and aesthetics in web design and development.
Introduction to Programming
This course offers students an introduction to computer programming. Participants learn to write programs using languages such as Java and JavaScript. Additional topics include variables, expression evaluation, logic and flowcharting, and debugging.
Interactive Web Script
This course teaches common scripting languages like Python, HTML, and JavaScript. Students learn to create the scripts and programs used to automate tasks and network system commands. Learners also create interactive websites that include image rollovers and pop-up windows.
Visual Design
Students learn the creative side of web design and how to produce visually compelling web layouts. Covered topics include imaging, branding, color theory, typography, and workflow techniques. Students acquire skills in web design software such as Adobe Dreamweaver. Learners finish the course with a portfolio that showcases their design talents to prospective employers.
Digital Graphic Design for the Web
This course covers the differences in design strategies for mobile applications, desktop computers, and tablets. Students also learn HTML and CSS, and they gain an understanding of user experience. In addition, learners create a website by the end of the course.
Writing for the Web
This course covers the differences in design strategies for mobile applications, desktop computers, and tablets. Students also learn HTML and CSS, and they gain an understanding of user experience. In addition, learners create a website by the end of the course.
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What Are the Admission Requirements for an Online Bachelor’s in Web Design Program?
Generally speaking, program admission requirements are very similar for online and on-campus learners. However, online programs may have higher acceptance rates because some virtual learning platforms can accommodate more students.
Many online programs have a high proportion of working students, so admissions departments may place greater emphasis on professional experiences, portfolios, and resumes instead of high school performance. Applicants pursuing web design should detail any experience with coding, computer science, or graphic design.
Application
Bachelor’s programs almost always require students to fill out a formal application. In this document, applicants typically provide their contact information and briefly catalog their educational background, extracurricular activities, and other qualifications. Many colleges require students to apply online through platforms like the Common Application.
Test Scores
Many undergraduate programs have eliminated standardized testing requirements. However, more competitive colleges may require students to submit SAT or ACT scores. Even if these exams are optional, learners can leverage strong test scores to highlight their capabilities and stand out among other applicants.
Letters of Recommendation
Many colleges require one or more letters of recommendation to learn more about applicants’ experiences, soft skills, and character. These accounts can come from supervisors, mentors, teachers, employers, or guidance counselors who can meaningfully attest to applicants’ academic and professional abilities.
Essays
Most colleges require undergraduate applicants to include a personal statement or application essay, which is generally about 600 words long. Students can use this open-ended piece to reflect on a variety of topics, such as discovering a passion or overcoming an obstacle. Some colleges provide supplemental prompts, which often require applicants to reflect on why they hope to attend a particular program.
Official Transcripts
Nearly every college requires applicants to submit transcripts from all secondary and postsecondary institutions they have attended. Admissions personnel use cumulative GPA as an objective metric to determine which applicants are most qualified. Many programs accept transfer credits from other institutions, which can shorten a program’s length.
What Can I Do With an Online Bachelor’s in Web Design Degree?
Career Outlook
Graduates with a bachelor’s in web design can work independently or find employment at technology companies, government agencies, and educational organizations. Job titles include web designer, web developer, and user experience designer. Graduates can also become mobile application designers and developers, and graphic designers.
The BLS projects that job openings for web developers and digital designers will grow by 8% between 2023 and 2033, which is higher than the projected employment growth rate for all occupations. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $84,960 in May 2023.
Mobile application developers and user experience designers also earn similar salaries. Payscale reports that mobile app developers earned an average annual salary of $84,571 as of March 2024, while user experience designers made an average salary of $80,951 per year.
See where a bachelor’s in web design can take you.
Career Paths
Web Designer
Web designers create the visual design for websites or webpages, including the layout, branding, color, and typography. These professionals produce websites that are easy to use, meet customer specifications, and appeal to a target market. Depending on the position, designers may also monitor and maintain the sites. Web designers may specialize in specific areas like user experience, user interface, mobile applications, or visual design.
Average Annual Salary (May 2023): $98,540
Web Developer
Web developers bring a website to life through programming and configuring databases and servers. These professionals use languages like JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Python, SQL, and Java. Developers ensure the functionality of the site, including the site’s capacity for traffic and speed, and may specialize in coding either the back end or front end of a website.
Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $84,960
Mobile Application Developer
Mobile application developers specialize in creating mobile apps. These professionals write code suited to Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android operating system for smartphones and tablets. Before releasing an app, mobile app developers test for bugs and troubleshoot problems.
Average Annual Salary (March 2024): $84,571
User Experience (UX) Designer
A UX designer focuses on engaging website visitors and ensuring that a website is easy to use and navigate. These designers pull from user research and data analytics to determine target markets and inform design choices. UX designers work with site maps, process flow, and wireframes, and they often test products before release.
Average Annual Salary (April 2024): $78,944
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers use digital illustration and photo editing software to create graphics for websites and other digital products. Some graphic designers work as part of a design team, while others work independently.
Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $58,910
Web Design Not For You? Check Out These Related Careers.
Continuing Education
Most web design careers do not require more than an undergraduate education. However, earning graduate degrees like a master’s in web development or a master’s in software engineering can help candidates qualify for more competitive positions.
Web developers with advanced degrees may enter supervisory roles. They can lead teams of programmers, web developers, and designers in a variety of projects. Professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees are also qualified to teach at a postsecondary level.
How Do I Choose an Online Bachelor’s in Web Design Program?
Cost
Higher education is often a substantial investment, and prospective students should be sure to choose a college that is affordable for them. The College Board indicates that in the 2021-2022 academic year, the total cost of tuition and room and board averaged $22,690 per year at public colleges and $51,690 at private colleges. Fortunately, online learners tend to save money on housing, dining, and transportation expenses.
Program Format
Although students can follow a more traditional four-year, full-time timeline, many working students find a part-time schedule more realistic. Other learners prefer a more condensed, accelerated format to graduate sooner. Students seeking greater flexibility may also embrace self-paced, asynchronous coursework, which allows learners to access materials and complete assignments without a set course schedule.
Location
Remote learning allows students to access nationwide opportunities and degree programs. However, there are many advantages to choosing an online bachelor’s in web design program based at a nearby institution. Physical access to a campus allows learners to meet with faculty members or advisors in person and take hybrid courses.
Many schools, particularly public and community colleges, offer affordable in-state tuition. The College Board reports that four-year public colleges charged in-state students an average tuition of $10,740 and out-of-state students an average of $27,560 in 2021-2022.
Accreditation
Prospective students should make sure that all colleges they consider are properly accredited. Accrediting bodies evaluate colleges’ instruction quality, course offerings, and student services. They award institutional or programmatic accreditation to colleges that deliver strong educational outcomes.
Although there is no programmatic accreditation designated specifically for web design, people pursuing an online bachelor’s in this area should research programs at accredited institutions.
Student Support
Strong student support services can optimize students’ learning and help them navigate their transition to the professional world. Many schools offer supportive academic resources for remote learners, such as virtual tutoring or digital libraries. Ideally, schools should also offer online career services, such as advising, mentorship programs, job boards, and internship opportunities.
Best Accredited Online Bachelor’s in Web Design Programs
Rankings compiled by the the BestColleges Ranking Team
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We want to help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
Our rankings are grounded in a few guiding principles and use the latest statistical data available from trusted sources. Read our ranking methodology. We hope our approach helps you find the school that is best for you.
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,300
- Out-of-state$4,300
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled44,481
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment82%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Stevens Point, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,698
- Out-of-state$15,402
- In-State$8,066
- Out-of-state$17,706
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled8,302
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Arizona State University Online
- Scottsdale , AZ
- Campus + Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students EnrolledN/A
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationNo
- In-State$26,520
- Out-of-state$26,520
- In-State$13,365
- Out-of-state$13,365
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate43%
- Students Enrolled9,546
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$10,990
- Out-of-state$33,273
- In-State$11,938
- Out-of-state$32,065
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled45,601
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Champlain College
- Burlington, VT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$42,564
- Out-of-state$42,564
- In-State$14,310
- Out-of-state$14,310
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled4,137
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
Southern New Hampshire University
- Manchester, NH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,600
- Out-of-state$9,600
- In-State$18,810
- Out-of-state$18,810
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled134,345
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$9,960
- Out-of-state$9,960
- In-State$12,510
- Out-of-state$12,510
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate54%
- Students Enrolled6,028
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment69%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$9,552
- Out-of-state$9,552
- In-State$16,080
- Out-of-state$16,080
- Retention Rate9%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled5,926
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Lewis-Clark State College
- Lewiston, ID
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,982
- Out-of-state$20,238
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled3,856
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
Frequently Asked Questions About Web Design Programs
Is a bachelor’s in web design worth it?
Nearly all postsecondary degrees require a significant investment of time and money. However, earning a bachelor’s degree allows graduates to access more careers and potentially earn higher salaries. According to 2022 BLS data, people who had only completed a high school diploma earned a median weekly salary of $853 and had an average unemployment rate of 4%. In contrast, bachelor’s degree-holders earned a median weekly salary of $1,432 and had an average unemployment rate of 2.2%.
Earning an online bachelor’s in web design equips students with software development, programming, and digital media design skills. Graduates can use this background to find various well-paying and in-demand jobs.
What can I do with a bachelor’s in web design?
Bachelor’s in web design programs train graduates to build secure, organized, and user-friendly websites for clients within diverse industries. Many professionals use their training to pursue roles that directly correspond with web design. They may work as web developers, front-end developers, or UX designers.
Some graduates might be more interested in using their technical skills, like scripting and coding, in roles like software developer. Others may prefer more creative, design-oriented roles like graphic designer or multimedia artist.
Are web design majors in demand?
Businesses and organizations of all kinds must build, design, and improve their websites. As a result, professionals trained in web design can pursue many in-demand roles. According to the BLS, jobs for web developers are projected to grow by 8% between 2023 and 2033, accounting for 16,500 new jobs. This exceeds the average job growth rate of 4% for all occupations.
During the same period, the BLS projects jobs for multimedia artists to grow 4%, accounting for 6,700 new jobs. Roles for software developers are projected to grow 17%, accounting for 140,100 jobs.
How much money can I make with a bachelor’s in web design?
Many professionals who hold an online bachelor’s in web design earn above-average salaries. The BLS indicates that in 2023, web developers earned an average annual salary of $84,960. In the same year, graphic designers earned a median annual salary of $58,910, while multimedia artists earned $99,060.
Payscale reports that as of April 2024, UX designers earn an average annual salary of $78,944, and front-end developers earn a median salary of $83,509 as of March 2024. Ultimately, salary potential depends heavily on experience level, location, and employer.
What are the highest-paying jobs with a bachelor’s in web design?
People with a bachelor’s in web design can work in many high-paying roles and specializations. According to BLS data, web developers who work in publishing earned a median annual salary of $130,420 in 2023. In the same year, the highest-earning 10% of all web developers earned over $157,280.
Multimedia artists who worked in advertising and public relations earned a median of $83,360 in May 2023. Those who worked in software publishing earned $110,340.
During the same year, software developers earned a median salary of $132,270 per year, while developers employed by software publishers earned a median of $148,610. Those employed in manufacturing earned a median yearly salary of $179,480.
Image Source: FangXiaNuo, Getty Images
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